BiblicalLeadership.com writer profile: Mark Deterding

Mark Deterding Dec. 7, 2020

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Tell us a little about yourself.

I've been married to my lovely wife for 40 years. We have two married sons and five grandchildren. We attend Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN. I'm a sports fanatic who especially loves baseball and hockey. I love the outdoors, fitness, biking, hiking, and exploring in the woods. I have a pure maple syrup operation which is a really fun and tasty spring activity in MN.

Describe what kind of work you do, and what you've done in the past.

I am the founder and CEO of Triune Leadership Services. We serve leaders by teaching them about servant leadership, and more specifically the leadership Jesus so clearly modeled for us.

I'm an executive coach, and also run a Servant Leadership Roundtable Online Program to help leaders understand the model of servant leadership that I outline in my book Leading Jesus' Way. Prior to founding TLS, I spent 35 years in the printing industry serving a couple of the largest printers in the world in senior leadership roles.

What was your first-ever leadership position?

Customer service manager over a team of 15 customer service representatives in a magazine printing plant in 1982.

How has God grown you as a leader over the years?

He has spoken to me through Scripture, with a clear outline of what effective leadership looks like, based on the life of Jesus. Then He has provided me with opportunities that can only be explained as acts of God, in the leadership roles He has put me in.

Through those experiences, and other key people in my life, He has seasoned me as a leader to the point where I started Triune Leadership Services to pass on what God has outlined to me over the years.

What's the hardest leadership lesson you've ever learned?

Don't get too high on the highs and too low on the lows. You will have both, so expect both and know that God will carry you through any and all circumstances when you put
your trust in Him.

What advice would you give to Christian leaders?

Don't be afraid to share with people where you draw your strength. Recognize that you have the opportunity to be a marketplace missionary simply by the way you lead and
interact with people every day. Work to lift people up, and build their self-esteem at every interaction.

Most meaningful Scripture:

Philippians 4:4-8— ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

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Mark Deterding is the founder and principal of Triune Leadership Services, LLC. In 2011 he formed Triune Leadership Services to follow his passion of working with leaders to help them develop core servant leadership capabilities that allow them to lead at a higher level and enable them to achieve their God-given potential. He is married to his wife Kim, and they have two sons, two lovely daughter-in-laws, and three wonderful grandchildren. This article was first published on triuneleadershipservices.com. Used with permission. Learn More »

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